Longford SFC final: Emmet Óg Killoe 2-09 Colmcille 1-11
A fisted point from Ronan McGoldrick in the 58th minute proved to be the matchwinner as Emmet Óg Killoe won the Longford Senior Football Championship for the 15th time.
The Killoe side have an unrivalled record of never being beaten in a senior final. Just like in 2023 McGoldrick again was the hero. Colmcille had chances to bring the game to a replay but just couldn't get the vital score.
Played in front of a crowd of nearly 3,000 spectators, Emmet Óg made a fine start to the game with Gavin Farrelly and Danny Mimnagh kicking over early points. Colmcille were level in the 13th minute; two points from the boot of Jack Macken. A free from Macken on the quarter hour mark edged Colmcille ahead for the first time.
Down the other end Paddy Moran’s low drive went wide. Barry McKeon kicked over a free to put two between in the 20th minute. The sides were level again in the 24th minute.
It was a real battle with scores at a premium.
Ciaran McKeon kicked over a superb point in the 30th minute to put Colmcille ahead by one. Declan Reilly put in an excellent tackle seconds later to stop Killoe from getting through.
Right before the half-time whistle Killoe scored a goal; Danny Mimnagh with the pass to Mark Hughes, Colmcille keeper Noel Farrell pulled off a save to deny Hughes but it creeped in due to a deflection. Killoe were ahead by two at the interval - 1-04 to 0-05.
The game opened up in the second half and it turned into an exciting contest. Cian Farrelly hit over a point to put three between the sides in the 33rd minute. A well-struck two-pointer free from the boot of Macken and two from Sean Smith put Colmcille ahead in the 42nd minute.
But once again the game turned in Killoe’s favour when Farrelly grabbed Killoe’s second goal in the 43rd minute. They went four ahead in the 45th minute but one minute later Cathal McCabe’s shot got a deflection and ended up in the back of the net. A fantastic two-pointed free from Macken gave Colmcille the lead again in the 47th minute; but that was to be their final score of the game.
Mimnagh and McGoldrick got points to give Killoe the advantage. There was drama in the final minutes. Down one end Colmcille’s Cathal Reilly took the wrong option when a goal was on while in the second minute of stoppage time James Moran raced through and hit his effort wide.
Try as they might, Colmcille just couldn’t get another score and Killoe held on to secure another Longford title, on a weekend where they claimed the Junior A and Junior C titles.
Emmet Óg Killoe: Micheal Hughes; Liam Hughes, Darren Moffett, Evan Farrelly; James Moran, Niall Farrelly, Ryan Moffett; Mickey Quinn (0-1), Ronan Keogh; Eamon Keogh, Cian Farrelly (1-2), Danny Mimnagh (0-3); Gavin Farrelly (0-1), Paddy Moran (0-1), Mark Hughes (1-0).
Subs: Paddy Kiernan for E Keogh (38), Ronan McGoldrick (0-1) for C Farrelly (53), Shane Donohoe for R Keogh (58)
Colmcille: Noel Farrell; Gerard Mulligan, Eoghan Williams, Conor Grant; Martin Mulligan, Declan Reilly, Ruairi Harkin; Vinny Hourican, Paul Farley; Sean Smith (0-2), Cathal Reilly, Cathal McCabe (1-0); Ciaran McKeon (0-1), Jack Macken (0-7,22pfs), Barry McKeon (0-1,1f).
Subs: Eoin Hawkins for C McKeon (40), Paul McKeon for Farley (45), Colin Farley for G Mulligan (55), Dylan McCabe for M Mulligan (60+2), Keelan Hudson for P McKeon (60+5)
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)
